Turn 12 of the Circuit of the Americas was the epicenter of the spectacular and eventful sprint of the United States GP this Saturday. There the best Jorge Martín emerged again, finally the winner after a dark 2025 due to injuries. And there the defender of the crown Marc Márquez fell to the ground, victim of the haste in the first lap, who also took the race ahead of poleman Fabio Di Giannantonio. , who had not won in his favorite format since the 2024 Malaysian GP, had so forgotten the celebrations that he even fell to the ground while doing a wheelie during his lap of honor at the American track, where his best result had been two third places.
Fortunately, the drag remained an anecdote and he was able to continue celebrating in style after cutting more than a second of difference in the last two laps, finally second with Pedro Acosta, from KTM, third. Martín, who took advantage of the fall of his teammate Marco Bezzecchi, is now the leader of the championship with one point ahead of his Italian colleague. The Spaniard started seventh, but came back immediately at the start and by the fourth lap he had already placed himself in a podium position. His overtake on Bagnaia was to the limit, including a touch, but spectacular as the best motorcycling has always been. Martinatorbeyond giving him guts, did something better than the rest: choose the medium tire, key to his best pace at the end of the short race.
The joy of the 2024 champion contrasted with the concern of the MotoGP sheriff. He is not comfortable and his rivals are trying to tickle him. And they seem to find chinks in their armor. Such was Márquez’s disaster this Saturday in one of his favorite hunting grounds, that his participation in the sprint It lasted only half a turn. When he sought to return the game to a daring and inspired Fabio Di Giannantonio, in the maneuver on the inside of the entrance to turn 12 of the track and he went to the ground, taking the Italian with him, a grave also after having signed a great timed.
Diggiawho is risking his continuity on the grid in 2027, flew for the second consecutive weekend after his double podium in Brazil. On the long and twisty Texan route, he signed a thrilling pole position record, lowering the previous best time on the track by seven tenths with a time of 2:00.136. It is the third preeminent position of his career in the premier category, and the first time he has managed to chain them. Up to eight drivers beat the previous record set by Maverick Viñales, who left the action on Friday after suffering from a shoulder injury.
The time trial was not without controversy, in one of his fastest lap attempts. Both will have to give up two positions in the starting order this Sunday, sanctioned by the stewards. He 93 He also had a misunderstanding with Enea Bastianini, but Race Management resolved the issue with a warning to the Catalan, still to be resolved if he will be punished for his mistake in the race. sprint with the poleman.
Beyond the missed turn and the traffic fights, the worrying thing for him was that he was half a second behind his brand mate when he was able to put in his best lap, relegated to sixth position on the grid, his worst result here on a Ducati. Then he finished screwing her up when he rushed into the race, contradicting his prescription of being patient in the run-up to the Austin weekend.
This Sunday (10:00 p.m., DAZN), the nine-time world champion aims to achieve his centenary victory as a professional, number 74 in MotoGP, on a circuit where he has won in seven of his ten appearances. “We already know that Marc is Marc, and you can never put limits on his potential,” warned Davide Tardozzi, former driver and his current team leader, despite the fact that it was not the best day for the flagship of the premier class.
